New 300 build. 72x36x24

[ibbennyb]

Ok so I bit the bullet and going bigger yet again. i currently have a 225 running 3 x 250 mh radium 20k with two 80w ati power plus blue supplement 3- tunze 6100 + wavebox 6215. adding an additional 6215 for he new tank

for the new tank i plan on going sps dominate. so looking for a few recommendations.

If i stick with MH i would go with 3 400w lumatek ballasts.. but im thinking its time to make the switch to LED however still see conflicting opinions on sps and LED's anyone with LED experience AND SPS please chime in. the biggest issue i have is the tank being 3 ft and trying to cover 3 ft. as said if i was going to do MH i would also sup. with 4 80w t5s

aquascaping would probably be an island so mh would be over the rocks and t5 to sup. everywhere else front and back

i have already purchased a new sump and skimmer waiting 2 months for it to be made / built from lifereed A++++++++ on them if you ever seen his products..


and last but not least.. anyone have any experience doing BareBottom for SPS... pros cons etc.

 

[mike_dani]

If you would like to drive to Huntsville I can show you the same tank with LEDs. It too will be a SPS with some LPS and zoas.

 

[mixer911]

I had a tank years ago that was similar to that in size. I ran 3 400w Radiums and 8 uri actinic VHOs. It was an awesome setup and I had great SPS growth. Only downside was the heat, I had to run a chiller most of the time to keep it cool.

Now LEDs are great as well. I currently have been running a SPS only tank for about 8 months with LEDs only. I have had good success with them so far. I really love the dimmable aspect as well as the no heat issues. The main thing is going to be what you like. As you said there is a lot of conflicting info out there and everyone seems to have different opinions about LEDs. IMO from my experience so far, I like them.

And speaking of bare bottom, my old tanks was also bare bottom . I really liked it. Kinda wish I did it with my current tank as well.
Pros: are easy to get lots of flow in areas that normally would be dead spots due to not having to worry about the sand shifting. Easy to keep detritus suspended in the water colmn to be skimmed out. Lots of FLOWWW.
Cons: people like the look as do I of the sand. Glass can be seen thru so you need to paint the bottom of the tank glass. Possible breakage if large rocks dropped on it. harder to aquascape.

I can find some pics and post them if you would like from my old system?

 

[ibbennyb]

Well I already have a rke so controllable will be nice. I have three chillers already as well so I have cooling if needed lol. I might def be interested in coming to take a look when it comes to led my main concern is longevity I always see people say great growth but long term. Ie after a year or two. Results imo yet to be seen. I'm actually taking my time on this build so its no hurry so just a matter of deciding what's best.

 

[reewik]

Wow, Gotta follow this build!

 

[poolkeeper1]

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/middle-tennessee-reef-club/65227-300-mixed-reef-build.html
Here is a picture of the Led System I built for a good friends 300 gal tank, Along with a few others and one on my 48x24" Rimless that has been up over a year with mostly all SPS and like Rick I like them and have great growth and color with this lighting. It all depends what you want to spend as for the 300 it was over 2,500.00 just in parts in the end but the results, Awesome lighting!
Bill

 

[ibbennyb]

here is what is 100% so far..

lifereef lf1-300 berlin sump with three media canisters with 24" liferefugium and lifereef vs3-36 protein skimmer blueline 40hd for skimmer andMazzei venturi
return pump will be a blueline 70hd
3 tunze 6100's
2 tunze 6215 wavebox
geo 618 calcium reactor
tunze ATO with calcium dispenser for kalk
DA reef keeper elite
ozotech poseidon ozone generator / ozone reactor or will incorp with lifereef skimmer


possible considerations / undetermined
co2 scrubber / sodalime for protein skimmer
oct bio reactor
if i get a ozone reactor then i will be getting a separate carbon reactor for the ozone
lighting either 3 lumatek 400w mh with 2 dual geismann t5 80w. or switching to led all unknown yet on led


pretty sure thats everything covered...

 

[ibbennyb]

https://www.reef2reef.com/forums/middle-tennessee-reef-club/65227-300-mixed-reef-build.html
Here is a picture of the Led System I built for a good friends 300 gal tank, Along with a few others and one on my 48x24" Rimless that has been up over a year with mostly all SPS and like Rick I like them and have great growth and color with this lighting. It all depends what you want to spend as for the 300 it was over 2,500.00 just in parts in the end but the results, Awesome lighting!
Bill

thanks ill def take a look

 

[mrsaltwatertank]

If you can return the RKE I'd do it. I haven't met anyone yet who likes theirs and I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that replaced their RKEs with Apexs.

 

[ibbennyb]

If you can return the RKE I'd do it. I haven't met anyone yet who likes theirs and I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that replaced their RKEs with Apexs.

already have it running on my 225.. no issues with it.. had some issues with defective parts but have all been replaced. and everything has been good since.

 

[poolkeeper1]

If you can return the RKE I'd do it. I haven't met anyone yet who likes theirs and I can't tell you how many people I've talked to that replaced their RKEs with Apexs.

+1 Especially if you plan on going LED for dimming control and IMO the GEO 618 may be a little too small for over 300 gal with a sump, An 818 may be the better choice

 

[ibbennyb]

+1 Especially if you plan on going LED for dimming control and IMO the GEO 618 may be a little too small for over 300 gal with a sump, An 818 may be the better choice

rke has the advance light control that would be able to control them as well... id probably be interested in your info on the brace replacement. my 225 right now has euro bracing which i love no braces across the tank at all right now.. the new 300 has two braces going across which i would love to get rid of....

 

[mike_dani]

rke has the advance light control that would be able to control them as well... id probably be interested in your info on the brace replacement. my 225 right now has euro bracing which i love no braces across the tank at all right now.. the new 300 has two braces going across which i would love to get rid of....

You can replace the braces with some euro-bracing no difficult to do just takes some time. My 300 is same dims build out of 1/2 inch glass euro-braced and an external coast to coast overflow. I to went off the deep end and spent a ton on my leds, total of 240 LEDs with no optics and looks awesome. I am thinking about adding some optics over the SPS only, I get 250 on the sand bed so the LPS are just digging it.

 

[ibbennyb]

You can replace the braces with some euro-bracing no difficult to do just takes some time. My 300 is same dims build out of 1/2 inch glass euro-braced and an external coast to coast overflow. I to went off the deep end and spent a ton on my leds, total of 240 LEDs with no optics and looks awesome. I am thinking about adding some optics over the SPS only, I get 250 on the sand bed so the LPS are just digging it.

yeah i think id def would come take a look... especially since its same dimensions.. would be nice to get some ideas ive pretty much decided on LED's now. i convinced myself.. haha. just gotta decide on the design / drivers etc.

 

[CloudIX]

My tank is almost the same size, its a 72X24X32 (240 gallon). Ive been running led's for a long time now. If you look at my album on this site you can see more pics. Your welcome to come see it at any time. The only thing i don't like about this tank is that its too deep. I would go for longer or wider then deeper if i had it to do over again.